Holdback or breeching strap.



G. F. RICE.

HOLDBAGK 0R BREEGHING STRAP.

APPLICATION FILED P3126, 1908.

PATBNTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

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GEORGE F. RICE, OF HOLLISTON, lllASSAOHUSETTS.

HOLDBACK OR BREECHING STRAP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. RICE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Holliston, county of Middlesex, and State oflllassachusetts, have invented an Improvc ment in Holdback or BreechingStraps, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawingrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to harnesses and especially to the breechingstrap or hold-back strap therefor. As harnesses are commonly made, thesehold-back or breeching straps are looped through the ring carried by thebreeching of the harness and have secured to one end thereof a buckle,said strap being looped about the shaft or shaft fastening and the endthereof being buckled to said buckle. W ith such a construction theentire strain on the strap comes on the buckle, and after a short timethe straps are apt to crack across where the holes for the tongue of thebuckle are, thus rendering the strap unsafe for use.

I have devised an improved hold-back or breeching strap which is soconstructed that the buckle is subjected to comparatively little strain,and therefore the danger of the strap breaking at the point where thebuckle is is greatly reduced.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have shown one embodiment of myinvention, Figure 1 is a view of a harnessed horse showing the harnessas equipped with my improved breeching strap; Fig. 2 is an enlargedfront view of the breeching strap; Fig. 3 is an edge view thereof. a

The harness herein illustrated is provided with the usual breeching 3which carries the usual ring 4 to which the hold-back or breeching strapis secured. A breeching strap embodying my invention has one end thereofsecured to the ring 4, and in the preferred embodiment of my inventionthe breeching strap will be permanently secured to the ring by havingthe end of the strap looped through the ring and doubled back on itselfand sewed to the body of the strap, as at 5 Fig. 3. My improvedbreeching strap has also secured thereto a buckle 6, said buckleSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 26, 1908.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Serial N0. 417,811.

being preferably sewed to the outer side of the breechin g strap in sucha manner that the tongue? thereof is directed toward the ring 4. Theother end of the breeching strap is free and is provided with the usualholes 8 for receiving the tongue of the buckle.

In using my improved breeching strap the strap is doubled on itself andeither looped about the shaft 10 or passed through the usual holder 9secured to the shaft and then said strap is passed through the ring 4,as at 11, and the end 12 thereof is buckled to the buckle 6. There thebreeching is thus constructed and is applied as shown in the drawings,the strain thereon comes directly on the ring 4 and the strain whichcomes on the buckle 6 is very small. The entire strain to which the holdback is subjected is distributed. between the two sides 13 and 14thereof, and only a small part of the strain to which the side 13 issubjected is received by the buckle 6 owing to the manner in which theend of the strap is passed through the ring 4. There is, therefore, verylittle danger that the strap will break at any one of the holes 8because even if after considerable use the strap becomes cracked at thispoint the strain to which it is subjected will not be sufficient tocause the strap to break.

If desired the breeching strap may be provided with the sliding loop 15which may be used for holding the end 12 of the strap from flapping.

It is not essential to my invention that the buckle should be secured tothe body of the strap in the manner herein shown, it only beingnecessary that the buckle should be carried by the strap between thepoint where it is secured to the ring 4 and the point where it loopsabout the shaft 10 or holder 9. My invention may also be embodied inpole-straps or guy-straps, such as are used in a double harness, suchpole-straps or guy-straps being in fact hold-backs.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is In a harness, the combination with abreeching having a breeching ring, of a breeching strap secured at oneend to said ring and having a buckle secured to said In testi1nonywhereof, I have signed my name to thlsspecrfioatlon, in the presence oftwo subsorlbmg Witnesses.

GEORGE E. RICE.

breeching strap on its outer side With the tongue thereof directedtoward the breeching ring, said breeohing strap being doubled on itselfto form a loop to engage the shaft or 5 holder and the end of said strapbeing passed Witnesses:

through the breeohing ring and secured to the Louis C. SMITH, buckle.BERTIIA F. HEUsER.

